Little Falls council passes resolution on gas pipeline

LITTLE FALLS - The Little Falls Township council passed a resolution Monday night that stated the council's concerns and safety about the Transcontinental Gas Pipeline that passes through Little Falls.

The motion states that it is the council's responsibility, along with the mayor, "to preserve the health, safety, and welfare of Little Falls citizens and the community at large, from any potential harm that may affect the people, property and environment," due to the expanded operation of the federally approved natural gas compressor station.

The pipe runs underneath Montclair State University and crosses Woods, Clove and Ridge roads, underneath high-tension power lines in the township.

The resolution also calls for Williams Transco Company, which owns the gas pipeline, to fund an independent safety study of this project.

The council also asks that state and federal agencies that approved this project to take "immediate action to protect all communities in New Jersey from any potential adverse effects to people and property."

The council also discussed several items including the road-paving schedule. Philip Simone, the superintendent of Department of Public Works (DPW), told the council that there are a lot more streets that need paving than there is funding for "so we took the worst streets and put them first."

Councilman Pam Porter asked if the project is strictly mill and paving or curbing as well, and Simone said strictly mill and paving. The DPW hopes to go to work this year, but it depends on funding.

The council also decided that they, along with the community, will have meetings regarding Blue Acres on Mondays at 7 p.m., at the Civic Center. No specific date was announced for the first meeting.

Simone also suggested to the council that they consider a resolution that citizens approach the board before planting trees between the curb and sidewalk. He said that many citizens are planting illegal trees in the "right of way" and are getting upset when local workers have to trim or cut them down because they are blocking a sign.

Councilman Bill Organisciak recommended that there be an image or drawing online explaining to the citizens where they and which shrubbery they can plant.

A 24-inch pipe also needs to be replaced at Morningside Circle. There are two ways the town can operate; one is to go through backyards cut down the multiple trees that are covering the area and replace the pipe and construct a headwall. The estimate for that alternative would be $198,000. The option that Simone suggested is to intercept the pipe in the road and replace it there, however this plan costs approximately $285,000.

Organisciak asked which option is better and Simone said if they go through the backyards infrastructure can be affected years later.

During the public forum, one resident was interested in buying land behind his house that was being exposed when the town knocked it down under Blue Acres.

"I just want to put up a fence around the land and my house for protection of my child," he said. "People are there fishing and when I ask what they are doing they get nasty at me."